Long time, very satisfied DirecTV customer here. Currently have 4 receivers - 1 HD Tivo, 1 reg Tivo (hacked/networked) and 2 standard boxes. That drives the bill up a bit as they nickel-and-dime for every little thing.

The networked Tivo box is super cool. Got it on ebay for like $120. It has a web UI and software to stream recorded shows to Windows Media Player on the PC or download them as .mpg's or .vob (DVD) files. I've heard you can also convert the files to play on an iPod video or PSP too.

Jeff and the other DirectTV guys:
If you have the Tivo/DVR receiver do they charge you an equipment leasing fee (on top of the Tivo service charge)?
What about there music channels, do they have Dj's talking in between songs? I ask because when my neighbors are having parties I often turn on the Jazz of classical station to help me go to sleep.

Years ago, when I first moved in with Linda, I convinced her to get rid of the several movie channels she was paying for, but never watching. I called them to arrange a disconnect for those, and was informed that I'd be charged a fee for them to discontinue service. I told them this, "here's what's going to happen, I'm going to cease paying for those channels effective the first of next month. I don't care whether you disconnect access to them, or not. That's your choice." They disconnected with no fee.

Lots of music. No DJ's. You buy the reciever. No lease.

That's right, after the first year's service, the receiver's are yours. There might be an installation charge, but there's no cost for the receiver.

Live in NY, Long Island to be specific.

Have Direct TV and Verizon FIOS broadband. Waiting for FIOS TV service to roll out here.

Only other option is Cablevision, the Dolan family. Greedy bunch of mofos'. The are NEVER EVER getting another penny of my money.

Scott

Nope. You pay I think $5 extra a month for the Tivo capability but that's it. You own the equipment, no B.S. like the cable company.

+1 to pretty much everything else said - stay away from all the "extra" crap (you don't need it) and do the install yourself. It's mindlessly simple.

There's supposedly a lot of stuff you can do with the tivo units too in terms of reprogramming and adding extra drives, output ports, etc. but I simply find that the quality of programming on these days isn't worth the time, effort, expense or trouble to pursue it. I've got better things to do than augment my "couch potato" time - but some people really geek out on it.

As far as I know, there is only one satellite for Dish Network. This means that shows are broadcast at the same time across the whole country. What you see at 6:00 PM on the West Coast, you see at 9:00 PM on the east coast. It makes not difference for live shows do not (like F1) of course, nor does it affect local broadcast channels. But it affects all the other cable channels, like TNT, Spike, Bravo, TNN, Discovery, History Channel, etc. Make sure you know how this will affect your viewing.

another for DTV and Tivo. I don't watch "live" TV at all. Then again I don't watch much TV anyway...F1, ALMS, MotoGP on Speed, Sopranos on HBO, Law and Order on TNT, Iron Chef of Food Network, 24 of Fox. That's about it.

Direct TV and a DVR. You will not regret it.

I've had all three at various times. DishNetwork was in Houston about 5 years ago. It would go out with any rain at all, even light rain. Dropped it after a year. Moved to San Antonio and went with DirecTv. The reception was better than DishNetwork and only went out with heavy rain. Unfortunately their high definition service sucked. You had to pay $10 a month for 5 high def channels and local hi def was not included. You had to buy an OTA antenna for that. Well, guess which antenna you need to pick up good quality high def? One of those big weathervane ones that go on top of the house. Some people can get away with them in the attic, but not in my area due to hills. So I was looking at $250-500 for an antenna install plus $10 a month for the high def service. Ok now here's the kicker. Want TiVo? Gee, you gotta buy a whole new receiver for that and the TiVo plus high def receiver will cost you almost $1000. I'm sure it's cheaper now, that was 2-3 years ago.

So I call my local cable company. High def service is $10 a month for 8 channels plus all the locals except for Fox (stupid contract dispute). You get a high def receiver plus TiVo for $5 a month rental fee.

No brainer.